Andrew Sproul - G.A.R., Bishop Post

Andrew Sproul was Irish through and through.  Both of his parents, Andrew and Nancy Baird Sproul, and his older sister, Mary Ann, immigrated into the U.S. from Ireland before his older brother, John's, birth in 1836.
He was born in Tuscarawas County, Ohio.

In 1850, Andrew's father farmed in Rush Township, Tuscarawas County, and the family added six sons born in Ohio: John, Robert, William, ANDREW, Thomas and James. By 1860, the family moved to Defiance and were enumerated there under the name Sproll.  Four sons and Mary Ann were at home.

When Andrew turned twenty, he felt his duty to enlist in the Ohio infantry.  His birthday was August 16, 1842, and his enlistment was August 22, 1862. (One source, however, said he was 19.) He joined Company E of the 111th Ohio Volunteer Infantry where he served until the end of the war. The 111th served under their captain, Benjamin F. Southworth, mainly in Kentucky and Tennessee until the movement into Atlanta and the Carolinas. Andrew was mustered out with his company at Salisbury, North Carolina, on June 27, 1865. He reported on the 1890 Veterans Census that he had an injury on his right foot due to his service.

On April 21, 1870, Andrew married Delotia Shaw, and the couple moved in with Andrew's widowed mother, Nancy.  His mother was 60 and had real estate worth $1500 at the age of 60.  Her daughter, Mary, 34, was still at home, along with sons,Thomas, 28, a farmer; James, 23, a teacher; and Andrew, 21, a farmer.
Andrew's father, also Andrew, died on May 10, 1869, so the sons supported their mother as a widow.

By 1880, Delotia and Andrew lived on their own with their growing family.  Andrew, still farming, had sons: Squire, 9; Solomon B. (called Bernard), Mary A., 6; Charles F., 4.  Also with them were Andrew's mother, Nancy, 75, and his brother, Thomas, 34.

Andrew's son, Solomon Bernard Sproul, died of a serious infection in September, 1900.  His obituary appeared in the Defiance Weekly Express on September 27, 1900.

"Salaman Bernard Sproul, son of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Sproul, died at the home of his parents in Defiance township at 3 a.m. today, aged 26 years, _?_ months and 4 days.  He had been suffering from an abcess of the side and back for over a year.  The funeral will (be held) from the house at 10 a.m. Friday, B. W. Slagle officiating.  The remains will be interred in the Taylor Cemetery.  

In the 1910 census, Andrew (Sprull on the census), 61 and Delotia (Elotia on the census) were enumerated with their son, Charles, 33, wife, and five children who lived with them.  Charles helped on the farm. Yet, in 1900, Andrew lived at 202 Summit Street, so although a farmer, he lived in town.

In 1921,  Andrew and Delotia were both 71 years old.  Andrew was always active in the G.A.R., serving as its commander in 1920, and on various committees.
His eldest son, Squire Ernest Sproul, died in June, 1924, in a horrible car accident.

Just a few years later, Andrew, himself, passed away quietly in Defiance where he is buried at Riverside Cemetery.  He died on February 17, 1926.

Defiance Crescent News, February 17, 1926

 Delotia followed her husband in death just a few years later, in January 1928.
The above obituary and funeral notice below appeared in the Crescent News on January 9, 1928.

Riverside Cemetery

(This is part of a series on Civil War veterans of Defiance County who were part of the G.A.R., Bishop Post, that headquartered in the city.  Formed in 1879, the post was named after a local man, Captain William Bishop, Company D, 100th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Army who died as a result of wounds received in battle.  The veterans' photos are part of a composite photo of members that has survived.  If you have other information or corrections to add to the soldiers' stories, please add to the comments!)

The Diamond Glass Company and The Kemper Cats

For many years, Lloyd V. Tuttle contributed historic photos and information to the Defiance Crescent-News for his column, "A Backward Glance."  The Kemper Cats baseball team from Defiance was featured in this undated clipping.

"KC STANDS for Kemper Cats, the old Diamond Glass baseball team.  This team picture was taken in 1900.

First Row:  Coy Jones; team mascot, Ed Pohlson's son; and Frank Bucholz

Middle Row: Warren Carpenter, Harry Kreps, Patty Ryan, Jim Duerk, and Ed Franzdorf

Top Row: Harley Hale, Grover Hull, Ed Pohlson, A. H. Kemper, and Frank Long.  
Harold Yeager submitted the photograph." 

****
The Kemper Colts were in their prime in the early 1900s, led by General Manager, A. H. Kemper of the Van Cleve Glass Company.  The glass company was in a building first built for the Tiedeman Furniture Company on Squires Avenue, along the B & O.  Eventually VanCleve was bought out by the Diamond Glass Company.

 Strangely, this glass company did not produce glass, but instead was the woodworking arm of the company which was based in Cleveland.  It made doors, sashes, and trim.  Tuttle claimed that the doors of the San Francisco Post Office were made in the Defiance factory.

The Kemper Cats played teams from Ohio, Michigan, and Indiana, and was known as a very talented baseball team.

Bennett Smith - G.A.R., Bishop Post

At sixteen years old, Bennett Smith was a private in Company F of the 48th Ohio Infantry.  Enlisting on December 16, 1861, he served until his discharge on August 28, 1862.  Perhaps he would have fought longer if not for a gunshot wound in his hand which he reported on the 1890 Veterans Census. Considering the time period, the wound could have occurred at the Battle of Shiloh in April, 1862, a particularly bloody battle that did not go well for the Union.  

Bennett was German, born in August, 1846, and naturalized here in 1850 or 1851. The 1860 census of Richland Township, Defiance County, enumerated Bennett, 14, with his parents, John and Frances, and nine children, of which Bennett was second oldest.  

 
In 1871, Bennett Smith married Cornelia Baker.  The couple had four children: John, Mary Mae, Karl and Bertha.  By 1880, they were settled into 250 Washington Street in Defiance, where Bennett worked as a carpenter, while Cornelia (who was born in Holland) minded the children and took care of their boarder, H. G. Baker, 22, a student at law and her brother.

The Defiance Democrat reported on December 14, 1882, that Bennett had his cousin (Potterf) from Germany into town.  What a tragic story that cousin had!

It wasn't long before Bennett became more of an entrepreneur, opening first a butcher shop on East Second Street.  Eventually, he expanded into other groceries, knickknacks, and even shoes.  One newspaper noted:

"You can purchase genuine home rendered lard at fourteen cents a pound of Bennett Smith, at his butcher shop on Second Street in Fourth Ward.  He also sells the best pork and beef steak at ten cents a pound.  Call and see him"

Advertisement from 1897

By 1900, he was a well established merchant in Defiance at the age of 52.  The census mentioned that two of his children, Karl, 15, and Mae, 22, worked as grocery salesmen - part of the family business.  Bertha, 19, taught school, and perhaps John had already left home.  The family lived in a home at 203 Auglaize Street .
In 1902, Bennett was severely injured in a runaway horse accident.  Three newspapers - The Defiance Express, the Defiance Crescent News, and the Defiance Weekly Express - all covered the story.

Defiance Express, August 9, 1902

 From the information provided in the stories above, it would appear that Bennett had given up his store and retired.  He did recover from his accident and in 1910, at the age of 64, he and Cornelia, 58, continue to live at the Auglaize Street home.  Two of their children lived with them: Mae, single and 30, was a shoe sales lady and Karl A., single and 25, was a civil engineer working out of the courthouse.

About 1919, Bennett and Cornelia and daughter, Mae, moved to Dustin, Hughes, Oklahoma.  Their oldest son, John, lived there with his wife, Jennie, and three children - Hayward, Lela, and Marvin.  John had a dry goods store there.  Bennett's daughter, Bertha, also resided there.  On January 6 1920, Bennett, 73, and Cornelia, 69, had their own home which they owned free of debt.  Mae was 39 and single, and perhaps cared for her parents. She was not employed otherwise.

On May 24, 1920, Bennett Smith passed away in Dustin, Oklahoma, and it was there he was buried in the Fairview Dustin Cemetery.  His obituary appeared in the Crescent News on May 26, 1920:

No photo was available of his tombstone.  Eventually Cornelia and Mae went back north where they settled in Adrian, Michigan.  Cornelia lived until May, 1934 when she died in Adrian.  Her body was brought back to Riverside Cemetery in Defiance.

 

Crescent News, May 21, 1934

Miss Mae Smith died in 1946 and was buried with her mother in Riverside Cemetery.

Crescent News, May, 1946

Riverside Cemetery, Defiance, Ohio

(This is part of a series on Civil War veterans of Defiance County who were part of the G.A.R., Bishop Post, that headquartered in the city.  Formed in 1879, the post was named after a local man, Captain William Bishop, Company D, 100th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Army who died as a result of wounds received in battle.  The veterans' photos are part of a composite photo of members that has survived.  If you have other information or corrections to add to the soldiers' stories, please add to the comments!)

Highland Township School, District #6 - 1936

Defiance Box Company

In 1916, the Defiance Box Company appeared in a Chamber of Commerce book
about Defiance.  The company, at that time, had been in existence over 25 years, buying logs and timber "on the stump" from nearby land owners close to the company mill which was on the canal in Defiance.  The factory and offices were located at the junction of the Wabash and B & O railroads.

For many years, Lloyd V. Tuttle contributed historic photos and information to the Defiance Crescent-News for his column, "A Backward Glance."
This article, undated, featured the ladies who worked at the Box Company in 1925, while a later article discussed the history of the factory. 

"THIS PICTURE is of some of the girls who worked at the old Defiance Box Co., a factory now occupied by the Farm Bureau alfalfa dehydrator.  It was taken on the roof of the plant in 1925.

Those in the picture are, from left, back row - June Whetstone, Ocie McClure, Lucille Cooper, forelady - Mrs. Barbara Flannigan, hold 'Watermelon,' the cat that was a pet of Miss Jennie Markley.
Kneeling down in front were Rose Kiessling and Lula Miler.

The picture was submitted by Mrs. Ocie Switzer, 323 Auglaize St." 

Wire bound boxes, pottery crates, poultry coops, box "shooks*, and wheelbarrows were all produced at the Box Company and shipped around the U.S. and to Canada, and Central and South Americas. 

*Shooks were the parts to make a box for the 'do-it-yourselfers.'"

In 1916, the Box Company appeared in a Chamber of Commerce booklet, which indicated the company, at that time, had been in business for 25 years.  W. A. Kehnast was president; C. A. Fessel, Secretary-Treasurer, and H. D. Bokop, General Manager.  The company was located at the junction of the Wabash and B & O Railroads, and also had a large saw mill along the canal in Defiance.  
"Logs were bought locally from the timberlands of the area."

Photo brought to the newspaper by Bernard Sherry

"THIS PICTURE, taken 55 years ago, shows part of the force of the old Defiance Box Co., which manufactured out of native timber dovetailed box shooks, veneer egg cases, poultry crates, wheelbarrows, slot fencing, factory trucks and various other items.

The main plant was located where the Farm Bureau alfalfa dehydrator now stands.  There also was a two story sawmill on the site of the Cozy Corner where hub blocks and dimension lumber were fashioned.

The two Defiance plants, at their heights, employed 124.  A plant at Ullin, Ill., employed about a similar number and one at Oriental, N.C., about 60.  When the native lumber was used up, an effort was made to use timber from North Carolina, but it came from swamp land and could not be kiln dried.
H. D. Bokop was the promoter and general manager of the company.

The picture...shows only a part of the working force and among those he could name are: John Stickley, Andrew Brewer, Frank Cupp, John Rath, Barney Sauber, Tom Rout, John Sauber, Bernard Sherry, Earl Whetstone, and Bill Romer.  The main local plant had several bad fires, but was rebuilt each time as only part of it burned."

Jonas Waldner - G.A.R., Bishop Post

An immigrant from Switzerland in 1852, Jonas Waldner was settled in Defiance County by the 1860 census.  He was a farm laborer living with Ernest and Louisa Jones and their one year old son.  Two other workers and a domestic servant finished the household.  


On April 28, 1861, Jonas enlisted in Company D, 14th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, under Sidney Sprague.  His term of three months was quickly over, and he was discharged on August 18, 1861.  He listed his disability on the Veterans Census as chronic diarrhea.  

Jonas, born on April 20, 1834, found love in the United States.  He married Katharine Oster on September 12, 1861, in Defiance. Katharine was from Bavaria, Germany.
The couple would go on to have nine children: Anna E., Mary E., Andrew, Earnest, Berita, Harry, Henry, Adam, and Elmer.  From 1870 to near 1900, the family lived in the Defiance area where Jonas farmed.  In 1880, Katharine's father was enumerated with the family.  Jacob Oster, 64, and a widower, was a lock tender on the canal.  

Sadly, in July 1887, Katharine Oster Waldner died, leaving a host of small children for her husband to care for and support.  The Defiance Democrat reported on July 28, 1887:

"Mrs. Kate Waldner died last Saturday at an age of 47 years, 1 month, and 18 days after a protracted illness of jaundice.  Funeral services were held Monday at the Presbyterian church.  Rev. May officiating in the absence of Rev. Slagle."

 In 1891, Jonas was admitted into the U. S. Home for Disabled Veteran Soldiers in Dayton, Ohio, when he was about 57 years old.  He was described as having dark hair, hazel eyes, gray hair and he was 5 foot, 7 inches tall.  He noted he was single.  At someone's request, he was discharged on July 18, 1892.

Anna Raubert married Jonas Waldner on September 14, 1894, in Defiance. The couple soon moved to Williams County where they were enumerated in 1900.  Jonas was 66 and Anna was 58.  Still at home with them were Alva (Adam?) Waldner, 17, and Elmer Waldner, 14.  They remained in Williams County - Pulaski, in 1910 - until Jonas died.   Elmer, 27, was still at home and working as an electrician at the time.

Jonas died on March 7, 1912, in Williams County.  No obituary could be found, but years after his death, E. B. Waldner (Elmer Waldner?) applied for a headstone for Jonas from the federal government. Jonas was buried in the older part of Riverside Cemetery, Defiance, along with his first wife, Katharine, and daughter, Bertha, who died when she was 12 and Andrew, who died at 18.  Four other names (Elizabeth, Nellie, Charles and Ferdinand) are on stones with no dates or other information in the Waldner area.

After Jonas died, his second wife, Anna, went to live with her brother in Ligonier, Indiana.  She died not long after Jonas, on October 17, 1912, and was buried in Ligonier.

Ligonier Leader, October 17, 1912

 

Death Certificate of Anna Raubert Waldner.  She had no children.

(This is part of a series on Civil War veterans of Defiance County who were part of the G.A.R., Bishop Post, that headquartered in the city.  Formed in 1879, the post was named after a local man, Captain William Bishop, Company D, 100th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Army who died as a result of wounds received in battle.  The veterans' photos are part of a composite photo of members that has survived.  If you have other information or corrections to add to the soldiers' stories, please add to the comments!)

Washington Township High School - Class of 1908

Class of 1908

Identified:
Bottom row: 4th from Left - Marie Strusaker Yeagley
                      5th from Left - Rella Walker

Please help identify these students.  Add names and placement in the comments.